Metals in biological systems can perform a wide range of reactions with exquisite efficiency and selectivity. In contrast, performing many of the same reactions in the lab requires harsh conditions and/or rare, expensive materials.

The course will cover the elements of the periodic table that are omitted in general and organic chemistry, mainly the transition (d-block) metals.

The wave nature of electrons is applied to atomic structure and periodic trends. Inter and intramolecular bonding models are used to interpret the chemical and physical properties of various materials, from simplistic diatomic molecules to structurally complex molecular and ionic systems.

Syllabus: https://www.luther.edu/mertzecl/courses/chem372/

Chemistry 372 is a course including molecular and solid-state bonding and structure, molecular symmetry, and coordination and organometallic chemistry.

The course is currently designed for a student population impacted by COVID and College policies that the department offer this course every third semester. This semester I have a diverse student population in terms of developmental levels including cohort year (freshman, junior, senior), prior foundational course work (biochemistry, analytical, physical), and research experience. I have altered the assessment part of the course substantively from prior iterations and reduced topic coverage to provide flexibility.

Focuses on structure, bonding, and reaction mechanisms of inorganic compounds using molecular orbital theory as a basis for metal-ligand interaction. Compounds covered include transition metal coordination compounds, organometallic compounds, and bioinorganic complexes. Other topics include redox chemistry, nuclear chemistry, and an introduction to solid-state chemistry.